Yarn guiding, conditioning, and tensioning device



N v. 7, 1939. .1. M. SEASHOLTZ 2.179.276

YARN GUIDING, CONDITIONING, AND TENSIQNING DEVICE Filed Dec. 16, 1937' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHNIVLSEAsH Tz OR EY Patented Na. 7, 1939 PATENT OFFICE nan comma, CONDITIONING, sun TEN- SIONING nnvrcn John M. seasons, Beading, 1a., assignor to J.

M. Seasholts a Sons, Inc., Beading hania poratlon of Penny Pa., a cor- Application December 18, 1937, Serial 310.180,! 12 Claims. (CI. 91-32) This invention relates to a guiding, conditioning and tensioning device for yarns and the like, and has special reference to such a device wherein both the tensioning and moistening can be regulated to suit the particular conditions for which the yarn is being used. The yarn guiding, conditioning and tensioning device may be utilized in the coning of yarns where it is advisable to moisten the yarn or condition same during coning, and it may be applied and used in connection with knitting machines where it is advisable to not only moisten the yarn, which is being supplied to the carriers, but to tension the same to prevent unnecessary slack which may result in loops and snarls, and also to properly guide same to the needles upon which same is used.

With the conventional knitting machine of the present day, different types of guiding, conditioning and tensioning devices have been employed, all more or less effective, but these devices have been unsatisfactory for one reason or another, e. g., collection of dirt and lint, wearing of felts, failure to give uniform tension, failure to give uniform moisture, etc., as well as annoyance in placing the yarns in their respective guiding 11163115;

The object of the present invention is to provide a yarn guiding, conditioning and tensloning device which will eliminate most, if not all. of the objections to the present day devices of this type in that it will provide uniform moistening and uniform tensioning.

Another object of the invention is to provide a yarn moistening and ,tensloning device which may be quickly and conveniently changed to provide more or less moistenlng. and more or less tension without removing the yarn from the device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tensioning and molstening device for yarn in which the yarns need not be threaded through eyelets or the like, but may be drawn across and through guide means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a device wherein a single unit may be adapted for a large numbefof strands of yarn, and wherein after beinglaid in the guide means, all of said yarns may be retained in position by single members.

According to the invention, the yarn guiding, conditioning and tensioning device comprises a tank or trough having means through which the height of liquid therein may be controlled, a casting providing grooves in which the yarn may be laid for guiding the same through the device and to the point of use, means for adjusting the length of time the yarn is to be immersed in the liquid, means preventing the yarns from leaving said grooves, and means for tensioning said yarns and removing the excess moisture therefrom.

The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and the views therein are as follows:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device employed for guiding, tensioning and extracting moisture from yarn and which device fits on the upper side edges of a liquid tank (not shown),

Figure 2 is a front view of the same and shows the liquid tank in dotted lines, I

Figure 3 is a rear view of the same and also shows the moisture tank in dotted lines,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the entire unit taken at a point indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the front seating member and shows the yarn guides therein,

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view 01' the combined splash and retaining plate,

Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views 01' the respective rods used for maintaining the yarns at the proper depth in the tank and for retaining the same in the guide slots,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the absorbent material strip employed, I

Figure 10 is a like view of the plate upon which the aworbent material strip rests, and

Figure 11 is a iragmentary vertical sectional view taken at a point indicated by the line |l--I I of Figure 4.

As illustrated in the drawings, the tank or trough I2 is preferably of sheet metal enameled and is rectangular. Viewing Figure 4, it will be seen that its rear wall i3 is upstanding while its front wall I4 is bent to form a drain plate it beyond which is a downwardly projecting part I! parallel with the front wall of said trough. Below this downwardly extending part IT is an outwardly flared part l8 terminating inan upwardly bent part l9 providing a gutter 2|. The drain I6 is provided along its length with a series of openings 22 for permitting conditioning liquid squeezed from the yarn to return to the trough.

The frame for the device comprises a rear guide member 23, a front member 24 and intermediate members 26. This may be made of cast parts, and'the parts may be coated with a. hard enamel surface. These intermediate members 26, by virtue of their connection with the rear and front members 23 and 24, hold the assembly in stable condition, so that it may be made to rest upon the front and rear walls l4 and I3 of the tank I2. The intermediate members each have 5 a front pad 21 and a front vertical rib 28. The rear guide member 23 comprises a vertical wall 29 having brackets 3| with seats 32 for receiving a retaining rod 33. These seats are located with respect to the bottom of grooves 34 in the vertical wall 29 of said member, so that yarn X passes under said rod 33 and through the slot 34in the vertical wall 29 of the member 23, so that they -will be retained in and bear against the bottom of said grooves. The vertical rib 28 of the member 26 is secured to the member 29 by means of bolts 36, while a rubber gasket 31 flts'on said bolt and between said parts.

The rod 33 resting in the seat 32 of the bracket 3| is shown in detail in Figure 8, and this rod is preferably of glass or metal having hard baked enamel thereon, so that the yarn bearing against the same in its course through the device will have little, if any, appreciable wear thereon. The member 26 has a series of fingers 38, 39 and 4| providing seats 42, 43 and 44 for receiving a rod 46. These members 26, as shown in Figure l, are located near the outer ends of the members 23 and 24, and the rod 46 rests in both members 26. The front member 24 has a front wall 41 and rear wall 48. These walls have grooves 49 and 5| respectively aligned with the grooves 34 in the vertical wall 29 of the member 23, while a seat 52 extends between said walls. This seat is grilled (see Figure 9) and comprises ribs 53 and openings 54 for the purpose hereinafter explained. Resting on this seat 52 is a plate 56, which may be formed of any suitable material, and which is shown in the drawings as formed of glass. This plate (see Figure 10) has its longitudinal edges beveled, as at 51. Resting on the plate 56 is a strip of absorbent material 58. The ends of this strip (see Figure 11) extend over the ends of the plate 56 and over the end of the grilled seat 52, and pass down through holes 59 in the drain plate l6, and in close proximity to the side wall |4 of the tank l2. The member 26 is connected to the member 24 by bolts 6| extending through the pads 21 and rear wall 48, and through a rubber gasket 62 between said parts.

The rear wall 48 of the member 24 has brackets 63 extending out therefrom to form seats 64' for a combined splash and retaining plate 66. This plate, as will be seen in Figure 1, has a pair of lugs 61 which fit into grooves '66 in the rear wall 48 of the member 24. The front wall 41 of the member 24 is provided with brackets 69 whichare formed to provide seats 1| for the reception of a rod 12. This rod 12 is practically identical with rod 33 resting in the seat 32 on the brackets 3| of the rear member 23, and while the same. is shown as made of glass, it is not intended to limit the same thereto, but

any hard smooth surfaced rod may be utilized. The yarn X, extending from the usual cones on a knitting machine, is laid in the grooves 34 of the vertical member 29, and passes through the groove 5| of the rear wall 48 and over the plate 56, and then in the groove 49 of the front wall 70 41 of the member 24. As will be noted from Figures 1 to 3, there are a plurality of these grooves 34, 5| and 49 in the assembly, and it is intended that single strands of yarn be extended through all the aligned grooves. In order to retain the yarn in the grooves 34, the rod .3

then seated on the brackets 3| to prevent the yarn from leaving the grooves 34, while the rod 46 is dropped into one of the seats 42, 43 or 44, depending upon the amount of moisture it is desired to absorb in said yarn during its passage 5 through the liquid in the tank II. A represents the height of the liquid (see Figure 4) but this height-is arbitrary and can be held at any desired level thro'ughm'eans which supplies the liquid to the tank through the opening 13. This open- 10 ing has a nipple (see Figure 2) 14 tor connecting either a hose or a pipe 16,1. e., if it is desired to give the yarn only a small amount of moisture, the rod 46 could be placed in the seats 44, and then the height of the liquid A could be 15 regulated to suit, being made'to drop lower than that indicated in Figure 4, if deemed advisable. 0n the other hand, if it is desired to have thd yarn absorb a considerable amount of liquid from the tang l2, the rod we could be dropped into the 20 seats 42 and the liquid level maintained at least as highas that shown at A in Figure 4. The combined splash and retaining plate 66 will prevent the yarn from leaving the grooves 6| in the rear wall 48 of the member 24, and 251 the rod 12 will prevent the yarns from leaving the grooves 49 in the wall 41 of said member. When the yarns have been thus arranged and the rods dropped into place, the absorbent material strip 58 will be laid on top of the yarns 30 and adjacent the topface oi! the plate 66. One

or both ends of the strip will be threaded down through the slot 59 in the drain plate l6, so that the bottom 11 thereof will be below the liquid level A. Thus, by capillary action, the absorbent 35 material strip 58 will always be moist. when the yarn which, from the point Z, passes directly to the needles of the knitting machine, is fed through the unit, a certain amount of the moisture acquired in the tank l2 will be pressed out 40 of the same by the contact of the yarn with the bottom of the grooves 6| in the rear wall 48 of the member 24, and thepassage of the yarn over the plate 56 and under the absorbent material strip 58 will further take out all excess 45 moisture, so that, as the yarn leaves the device,

it will retain just the amount of moisture required for successful handling.

In order to provide variable tension on the yarn, a plate 16 extends the full longitudinal 50 length of the absorbent material strip 68. This plate may be oi! any desired material, and its thickness will determine the amount of tension between the plate 56 and absorbent material strip 58; Consequently, plates 18 of different thicknesses and weights may be provided in order to adjust the tension on the yarn as it leaves the device. If desired, the walls 41 and 29 may each be provided with end flanges 19 to prevent the rods 12 and 33 respectively from longitudinal movement.

The .plate 56 has all the side edges thereof beveled so that the plate may be dropped onto the grilled seat 52, and regardless of how placed 6| therein, no sharp edge will contact the yarn x on its passage thereover.

The tank l2 may be of any suitable length, that is to say, it may be made continuous for supporting a single unit, or it may be made of such length as to support two, three or more of the guiding and tensioning units.

The yarn guiding, conditioning and tensioning device illustrated and described herein may be. modified and changed in various ways with- 7 out departing from the invention herein set forth and hereafter claimed.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A tensioning and moistening device for a plurality of yarns and the like comprising in combination. a liquid tank having a substantially horizontal drainplate, a yarn guiding device having vertical walls with means bridging said drain plate, intermediate means connecting said walls with a.rear wall, a plurality of open grooves in each o tgsaid walls for receiving and guiding yarns, bracket associated with each of said walls, seats in saidintermediate means located at different levels in said tank for receiving a unitary member which directs said yarns into a bath in said tank, unitary means resting in the brackets of said walls for preventing the yarns from leaving said grooves, and unitary means carried on said bri ing means for tensioning said yarns and extracting excess liquid therefrom.

2. A tensioning and moistening device for a plurality of yarns and the like comprising in comloination, a liquid tank having a substantially horizontal drain plate, a yarn guiding device having vertical walls with means bridging said drain plate, intermediate means connecting said walls with a rear wall, a plurality of open grooves in each of said walls for receiving and guiding yarns,

brackets associated with each of said walls, seats in said intermediate means located at different levels in said tank for receiving a unitary memher which directs said yarns into a bath in said tank, unitary means resting in the brackets of said walls for preventing the yarns from leaving said grooves, a glass strip resting on said bridging means, and a pliant material strip for holding said yarns against said glass strip to tension said yarns and extract excess liquid therefrom.

d. A yarnconditioning device comprising a liquid tank, a pair of upright members supported on the upper side edges of said tank and having a plurality of open grooves for receiving and guiding yarns, members connecting said upright members and having seats at diiferent levels for receiving a rod under which yarns are passed to immerse them to a desired depth in the liquid in said tank, and means for retaining the yarns in said grooves.

a. A conditioning device comprising a liquid tank, a pair of members supported on the upper side edges of said tank and provided with walls having a plurality of open grooves into which yarns may be dropped, members connecting said grooved members and having seats at different levels for receiving a rod to selectively immerse said yarns to the desired depth in the liquid in said tank, and bracket means for receiving a rod to prevent said yarns from leaving said grooves.

5. A guiding, conditioning and tensioning device for a plurality of yarns and the like comprising in combination, a liquid tank, a unitary yarn guiding device adapted to rest on the front and rear sides of said tank and having a plurality of open grooves therein for receiving and guiding yarns, members on said device having seats located at diiferent levels in said tank for receiving and retaining means which directs the yarn below same, and means for tensioning said yarns and extracting excess liquid therefrom.

6. A guiding, conditioning and tensioning device for a plurality of yarns and the like comprising in combination, a liquid tank, a unitary yarn guiding device adapted to rest on the front and rear sides of said tank and having a plurality of open grooves therein for receiving and guiding yarns, brackets on said device having seats located at different levels in said tank for receiving and retaining a rod which directs the yarns below same, and means for tensioning said yarns and extracting excess liquid therefrom.

'7. A guiding, conditioning and tensioning device for a plurality of yarns and the-like comprising in combination, a liquid tank, a unitary yarn guiding device comprising a rear member having a vertical plate witha plurality of open grooves therein for receiving and guiding yarns, a front member having'a pair of vertical plates with a plurality of grooves therein, said front and rear members being supported on the upper edges of said tank, intermediate brackets on said device having seats located at different levels in said tank for retaining a rod which directs the yarns below same, and means for tensioning said yarns and extracting excess liquid therefrom.

8. A guiding, conditioning and tensioning device for a plurality of yarns and the like comprising in combination, a liquid tank, a unitary yarn guiding device comprising a rear member having a vertical plate with a plurality of open grooves therein for receiving and guiding yarns, a front member having a pair of vertical plates with a plurality of grooves therein, said front and rear members being supported on the upper edges of said tank, intermediate brackets on said device each having a plurality of seats located at different levels in said tank for receiving and retaining means which directs the yarns below same, and means for tensioning said yarns and extracting excess liquid therefrom.

9. A guiding, conditioning and tensioning device for a plurality of yarns and the like comprising in combination, a liquid tank, a unitary yarn guiding device comprising a rear member having a vertical plate with a plurality of open grooves therein for receiving and guiding yarns, a front member having a pair of vertical plates with a plurality of grooves therein, said front and rear members being supported on the upper edges of said tank, intermediate brackets on said device having seats located at different levels in said tank for receiving and retaining a rod which directs the yarns beneath same, and means located between the vertical plates on the front member for tensioning said yarns and extracting excess liquid therefrom.

10. A guiding, conditioning and tensioning device for a plurality of yarns and the like comprising in combination, a liquid tank, a unitary yarn guiding device comprising a rear member having a vertical plate with a plurality of open grooves therein for receiving and guiding'yarns, a front member having a pair of vertical plates with a plurality of grooves therein, said front and rear members being supported on the upper edges of said tank, intermediate brackets on said device each having a plurality of seats located at different levels in said tank for receiving and retaining a rod which directs the yarns below same, and means located between the vertical plates on the front member for tensioning said yarns and extracting excess liquid therefrom.

11. A guiding, conditioning and tensioning device fora plurality of yarns and the like comprising in combination, a liquid tank having front and rear vertical walls, an intermediate vertical wall and a drain plate between the front and intermediate. walls, a unitary yarn guiding device adapted to rest on said walls and provided with a. plurality of open grooves therein for receiving and guiding yarns, seats adjacent said grooves for. receiving rods to retain said yarns in said grooves, brackets having seats located at differ ent levels in said tank for receiving and retaining a rod which directs the yarns below same, and means above said drain plate for tensioning said yarns and extracting excess liquid therefrom.

12. A yarn guiding, conditioning and tensioning device for a plurality of yarns or the like comprising in combination, a liquid tank, a unitary yarn guiding device comprising a rear member having an enameled vertical plate with a plus 4 argaava 

